Dr. Murray Feingold: Holidays can be hazardous to your health

Tuesday

I don’t want to put a damper on your holiday spirits, but, from a health point of view, it has been shown that at times the holidays can be detrimental to your health.

The holiday season has arrived. First Thanksgiving followed quickly by Christmas. And then there is Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

I don’t want to put a damper on your holiday spirits, but, from a health point of view, it has been shown that at times the holidays can be detrimental to your health.

Some inquiring minds want to know if one particular holiday is more of a health hazard than another.

Although a scientific study may have been published on this topic, and if so I am not sure why, I am unaware of any peer-reviewed, double-blind study that has addressed this issue.

However, I do have some views on this subject that I would like to share with you. These are not scientific facts, but my opinions based mainly on my clinical impressions and observations.

Let’s discuss Thanksgiving and Christmas.

I believe that the Christmas holiday season is more detrimental to your health than Thanksgiving, and here are some of the reasons.

First of all, the celebration of Christmas lasts much longer.

Thanksgiving is a three- or four-day holiday, while Christmas activities start as soon as we devour the last Thanksgiving turkey leg. And these festivities don’t stop until we start getting ready to celebrate the new year.

Gift giving that is associated with Christmas is preceded by gift buying which can be a source of much stress, especially if you are a last-minute shopper.

Although the old adage that it’s better to give than to receive is sage advice, it is not always followed by all gift receivers who can be dissatisfied with their gifts, resulting in unhappy individuals.

There are also many more holiday parties and get-togethers to attend at this time. That means you have more opportunities and temptations to eat or drink too much, obviously unhealthful activities.

Then there are the holiday blues. These blues last longer during the Christmas season.

But it really isn’t that important what holiday is more hazardous to your health.

What is important is that you recognize that during the holidays, any holiday, you are at a greater risk of developing some type of physical or emotional problem.

Emotional issues are more difficult to deal with but they must be addressed.

And, by using some common sense and restraint, like not over overindulging, you can eliminate some of the physical holiday woes.

Happy Holidays!

Massachusetts-based Dr. Murray Feingold is the physician in chief of The Feingold Center for Children, medical editor of WBZ-TV and WBZ radio, and president of the Genesis Fund. The Genesis Fund is a nonprofit organization that funds the care of children born with birth defects, mental retardation and genetic diseases.

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